Absolute motion detector

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for the detection of absolute motion in a three-dimensional coordinate frame of reference, having mutually perpendicular axes X, Y and Z, by an instrument positioned in the path of a light beam or ray traveling in only one direction, existing in its own space-time frame, and moving straight ahead at the speed of light from its point of origin; and detecting the impact of the beam by the instrument, where the detection is by a charge-coupled device (“CCD”) positioned in the path of the ray or beam.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the detection of motion and, moreparticularly, to the detection of absolute motion between an object andthe path of a light beam.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Motion is indicated by the change of position of a body withrespect to a frame of reference or a coordinate system, or relative toanother body. Motion is a process that results in a body having a changeof position. All motions take place on definite paths, and the nature ofthese paths determines the character of the motions. If all points in abody have similar, but not necessarily straight paths relative toanother body, the first body has motion of translation relative to thesecond body.

[0003] If all points in a body have different paths relative to anotherbody, the motion of the first body relative to the second, is acombination of translation and rotation. Rotation occurs when any lineon a body changes its orientation relative to a line on another body. Ina reciprocating engine, one end of a connecting rod is attached to ahinge-type joint to a piston and moves with it on a straight pathrelative to a cylinder block, while the other end of the rod is attachedby hinge-type joint to the crankshaft and moves with it on a circularpath relative to the block. Bodies connected by hinges can only rotaterelative to one another. Consequently, the motion of the connecting rodrelative to the piston and relative to the crankshaft is pure rotation.Relative to the block, the motion is a combination of translation androtation, which is the most general type of plane motion in parallelplanes, relative to the block.

[0004] In the real world, all motions are relative compared from onepoint on a body to another point on another body. If there were only onebody in the universe, Newton's concept of absolute motion and absoluterest would preclude determining if it were moving or not moving. Up tonow Newton's concept of absolute rest and motion have not beenconceptualized.

[0005] Because of the explorations that have been made in outer space,it has become important to be able to determine absolute motion.

[0006] Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention toprovide a method and apparatus for the determination of absolute motion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the inventionprovides for the detection of absolute motion in a three-dimensionalcoordinate frame of reference, having mutually perpendicular axes X, Yand Z, by an instrument positioned in the path of a light beam or raytraveling in only one direction, existing in its own space-time frame,and moving straight ahead at the speed of light from its point oforigin; and detecting the impact of the beam by the instrument.

[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a suitabledetector is a charge-coupled device (“CCD”) positioned in the path ofthe ray or beam. The CCD device is impacted at a particular spot, whichcan be recorded. Other suitable detectors include high-resolutionphotographic film, an auto collimator or any system that has resolutionsuitable to detect the motion of a light beam from a laser.

[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the CCDdevice can be moved to another position, so that it will be stricken atanother spot. The instrument can be moved to a position at a right-angleto the beam.

[0010] In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, theinstrument for the detection of absolute motion is a laser that emits asingle laser ray from within a tube to a charge-coupled device.

[0011] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, theinstrument is mounted on a tripod with a telescope mounting to allowprecision pointing; whereby the instrument can be angled up and down aswell as turned right and left. A computer has connecting cables thatextend therefrom to the instrument, allowing the recording of theposition of a pixel of the CCD that is struck by the laser beam. A lightdot appears to indicate its position on the screen of the computer.

[0012] In accordance with a method of determining absolute motion, thesteps include (a) determining the distance a ray travels from anemitting source of an instrument to a first detector therein, andcalculating its motion in any direction perpendicular to the line ofpropagation of the ray, (b) moving the instrument from its position offirst recorded impact of the light ray and determining the change ofposition of the impact on the detector by the light ray; and (c)positioning the instrument at a right angle to a first position in orderto record motion in the right-angle coordinate; whereby the absolutemotion in three directions can be determined.

[0013] The method can include the step wherein the instrument uses theearth's rotational motion for detection, and the instrument iscalibrated so that a beam of light strikes a CCD detector at its centerwith coordinates designated X=0 Y=0, when the instrument is pointedNorth, for the sake of an example.

[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the method, the instrumentis turned to point south, say the instrument now reads X=10 and Y=0,whereby the line up is the same between the detector and the laseremitter, so that the only difference is the orientation of the detectorwith the earth's motion, and a shift in pixels of the detector appears.

[0015] In accordance with yet another aspect of the method, theinstrument contains a laser emitting a small 5 micron beam. The methodfurther includes the steps of (a) adjusting a plate of the laser byscrews with fine grooves to calibrate the initial laser ray to as closeto the center of the detector as possible; (b) using a central mount tohold the laser securely; and (c) locking the screws in place once thedesired position of the beam is achieved.

[0016] A multiplicity of detectors is employed in order to determineabsolute motion in a plurality of coordinate directions without the needfor having to move the position of a single detector in order todetermine the absolute motion. Two or more detectors can be employed.

[0017] In a method of the invention for fabricating apparatus to detectabsolute motion in a three-dimensional coordinate frame of reference,having mutually perpendicular axes X, Y and Z, the steps include (a)constructing an instrument for positioning in the path of a light beamor ray traveling in only one direction, existing in its own space-timeframe, and moving straight ahead at the speed of light from its point oforigin; and (b) including in the instrument means for detecting theimpact of the beam. The method further includes the step of mountingmeans for detection as a charge-coupled device (“CCD”) positioned in thepath of the ray or beam.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent afterconsidering several illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction withthe drawings in which:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a graph in a three-dimensional coordinate frame of areference light beam.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a diagram of a schematic device for detecting motion.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a diagram of a charge-coupled detector for detection ofmotion.

[0022]FIG. 4 is a diagram of the charge-coupled detector of FIG. 3 usedfor detecting a shift of the vector of alternative motion.

[0023]FIG. 5 is a diagram of a laser beam illustratively having ayellow-green color and being 5 microns in diameter.

[0024]FIG. 6 is a diagram of an assemblage for laser adjusting plates inaccordance with the invention.

[0025]FIG. 7 is a diagram of a telescope mounting for a laser to beangled in multiple directions.

[0026]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the orientation of two detectors forthe detection of motion in three directions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts athree-dimensional coordinate frame of reference, having mutuallyperpendicular axes X, Y and Z.

[0028] In this frame of reference, a light beam or ray travels only inone direction. This can be appreciated by the fact light is consideredto exist in its own space-time, which moves at the speed of light.Consequentially there is no motion of a light ray or laser beam in anydirection except straight ahead from its point of origin.

[0029] If a suitable detector, such as a charge-coupled device (“CCD”)is put in the path of the ray or beam, the CCD detector will be impactedat a particular spot, which can be recorded. If the CCD device is movedto another position, still maintaining its original orientation to thesource, the detector will be stricken at another spot.

[0030] Consider the detector at absolute rest, if the light ray strikesthe detector at a certain spot, and this spot is recorded, then when thedetector is put in motion at a right angle to the light ray, the raywill strike the detector in a difference point. Comparing the differenceof the two points, the velocity of the detector can then be calculated.Light rays do not pick up the motion of the source of the light ray.

[0031] Another detector can be positioned at a right angle to the firstdetector, in order to record motion in the right-angle coordinate.Consequently, the absolute motion of the detector in three directionscan be determined.

[0032] As indicated in FIG. 2, a device schematic of an instrument 20for the detection of absolute motion employs a laser 21 that emits asingle laser ray 22. The laser 21 is positioned in a tube 23 and emitsthe ray 22 for impacting a detector 24 inside the tube 23. A suitabledetector 24 takes the form of a charge-coupled device (CCD) 25.

[0033] The instrument 20 is mounted on a tripod 26 with telescopemounting 27 to allow precision pointing of the instrument 20. As aresult, the instrument 20 can be angled up and down as well as turnedright and left.

[0034] A computer 28 has connecting cables 28-C that extend from thecomputer 28 to the CCD 25, allowing the recording of the position of thepixel P-1 of the CCD that is truck by the laser beam 22.

[0035] As a result, a light dot D-1 appears to indicate its position onthe computer screen 28-S. It is to be noted in FIG. 3, that the rotationof the earth is symbolized by the arrow A showing the direction ofrotation from west to east, facing north at coordinates X=0, Y−0.

[0036] Using the Earth's rotational motion as an example for detection,the instrument 20 is calibrated so that the beam of light strikes theCCD 25 at its center with coordinates designated X=0Y=0.

[0037] With the instrument 20 now turned to point South, X=10 Y=0, asrepresented in FIG. 4, since the line up is the same between thedetector 24 and the laser emitter 21, and the only difference is theorientation of the detector 24 with the Earth's motion, a shift in thepixels P-1, P-2 of the detector 24, is noted. The dot D-1 on the leftrepresents the original dot position and the dot D-2 on the right is thevisible dot, which has shifted.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5, for suitable detection, the laser 21 emits asmall 5 micron beam 22-M which has a color, depending on the laser used.

[0039] In the assembly diagram 50 of FIG. 6, for the laser adjustingplate 51, 4 screws 52 with fine grooves are used to calibrate theinitial laser ray 22-I to as close to the center of the CCD 25 aspossible. A central mount 53 holds the laser 21 securely. The screws 52are lockable once the desired position of the beam 22-B is achieved.

[0040] The above depiction employs only one laser 21 and detector 25 forsimplicity. A final instrument can contain a multiplicity of detectors,such as two or more, arranged in all directions to reveal a compositemotion vector without the need to turn the single laser employed in asingle arm procedure.

[0041] It will be understood that the foregoing detailed description isillustrative only and that modifications and adaptations of theinvention may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. Apparatus for the detection of absolute motion in athree-dimensional coordinate frame of reference, having mutuallyperpendicular axes X, Y and Z, comprising: an instrument positioned inthe path of a light beam or ray traveling in only one direction,existing in its own space-time frame, and moving straight ahead at thespeed of light from its point of origin; and means for detecting theimpact of said beam by said instrument.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim1, wherein said means for detecting is a charge-coupled device (“CCD”)positioned in the path of said ray or beam.
 3. Apparatus as defined inclaim 2, wherein said CCD device is impacted at a particular spot, whichcan be recorded.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein means areprovided for moving said CCD device to another position, so that saiddevice will be stricken at another spot.
 5. Apparatus as defined inclaim 4, wherein said instrument is moved to a position at a right-angleto said beam.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein saidinstrument for the detection of absolute motion comprises a laser thatemits a single laser ray, means for positioning said laser in a tube foremitting said ray to impact said device inside said tube.
 7. Apparatusas defined in claim 6, wherein said device is charge-coupled. 8.Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said instrument is mounted on atripod with a telescope mounting to allow precision pointing; wherebysaid instrument can be angled up and down as well as turned right andleft.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein a computer hasconnecting cables that extend therefrom to said instrument, allowing therecording of the position of a pixel of said CCD that is struck by saidlaser beam.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein a light dotappears to indicate its position on the screen of said computer.
 11. Amethod of determining absolute motion comprising the steps of (a)determining the distance a ray travels from an emitting source of aninstrument to a first detector therin, and calculating its position; (b)moving said instrument from its position of first recorded impact ofsaid light ray and determining the new position of the light ray; and(c) positioning said instrument at a right angle to a first position inorder to record motion in the right-angle coordinate; whereby theabsolute motion in three directions can be determined.
 12. The method asdefined in claim 11, wherein said instrument uses the earth's rotationalmotion for detection, and said instrument is calibrated so that a beamof light strikes a CCD detector at its center with coordinatesdesignated X=0 Y=0.
 13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein saidinstrument is turned to point south, illustratively the detector readsX=10 and Y=0, whereby the line up is the same between said detector andthe laser emitter, so that the only difference is the orientation ofsaid detector with the earth's motion, and a shift in pixels of saiddetector appears.
 14. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein saidinstrument contains a laser emitting a small 5 micron beam,illustratively yellow in color.
 15. The method as defined in claim 11,further including the steps of: (a) adjusting a plate of said laser byscrews with fine grooves to calibrate the initial laser ray to as closeto the center of said detector as possible; (b) using a central mount tohold said laser securely; and (c) locking said screws in place once thedesired position of said beam is achieved.
 16. The method as defined inclaim 15, wherein said a multiplicity of detectors is employed in orderto determine absolute motion in a plurality of coordinate directionswithout the need for having to move the position of a single detector inorder to determine said absolute motion.
 17. The method as defined inclaim 16, wherein said two detectors are employed.
 18. The method asdefined in claim 16, wherein at least three detectors are employed. 19.The method of fabricating apparatus for the detection of absolute motionin a three-dimensional coordinate frame of reference, having mutuallyperpendicular axes X, Y and Z, comprising the steps of (a) constructingan instrument for positioning in the path of a light beam or raytraveling in only one direction, existing in its own space-time frame,and moving straight ahead at the speed of light from its point oforigin; and (b) including in said instrument means for detecting theimpact of said beam.
 20. The method as defined in claim 19, furtherincluding the step of mounting means for detection as a charge-coupleddevice (“CCD”) positioned in the path of said ray or beam.